Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-09

The Clerk Of the Criminal Court short
S2OO,OO i'm his Accounts.

The Clerk Of the Criminal Court short
S2OO,OOO in his Accounts.
BOSTON, Feb. 9.-It has been learned that John
C. Leighton, for 10 years clerk OF the municipal
criminal court in this city is short In his accounts
to a large amount. The exact sum OF the defalca-
ton will not be known until the expert now en-
gagged on the books completes his labors. IL Is
stated, however, by City Auditor Dodge that the
total will be perhaps 500, 600 or more. Leighton
was appointed In 1867, and held the office up 10
withina short time ago. In the court in which
he served thousands OF criminal cases are tried
annually, and the money received Tor fineS and
costs is all turned over TO the clerk, who is sup
posed TO deposit II with the city treasurer OF BoS
ton, who is also county treasurer. 1t is said that
the present auditors predecessors have not
confidence seems to have been placed in Clerk
Leighton. Beginning With 1870 published reports
OF the city auditor respecting this department.
Leightons receipts for fines COSTS fees etc., were
the greatest the total being $429 9 an average OF
credited In the books of the City auditor with hav
ing turned in $50 2s9 or an average OF little more
than 5000 Year. From 1850 TO TO 1856, the
last years Of his administration, he is credited
with having turned into the city treasury $751;
013, or an average Of little more than S24,511. A
second i've years OF hts ofice is unaccounted for
except on the theory that the money went 70 the
pockets OF the individual rather than 10 the city
treasury. As high as ~, coo cases year, or even
more, have been brought before his court during
Mr.. LelghtOnS clerkSnip. The ''drunks" alone
Will average nfty day and the fines in such cases
the large number OF cases or assault and battery
and other minor OfTenSes. The term OF Clerk
Leighton expired short time ago, but he was re-
appointed by Gov. Robinson and shortly after his
reappOlntmenL he resigned. Whether. or not
the fact that he was an einbeZZler or the countyS
funds was known previous TO his resignation has
not been learned. For many years he has been
known only as an hOnOred and respected citizen,
and the blow will be a severe one Why he should
appropriate the FUNDS Of the county Is mystery
To his friends His habits OF life were not eXJraya-
gant and he had NO family. His salary
$1,000 Ills property is assessed Tor $4,000, but
IL Is said TO De worth a tgreat deal more money
than Is represented on the ASSESSORS Docks.
DENIAL FROM AUDITOR DODGE.
City Auditor Dodge this morning emphatically
denied making the statement attributed TO him
by morning paper that Mr.. Leghtons accounts
were probably 500, ,OOO short.
The Montreal Carnival.
FANCY DRESS BALL AT THE RINK-A TRAGIC IN
CIDENT.
MONTREAL, Feb. 9-At the Odd Fellows concert
last night the governor general delivered an
address which was warmly received The festiT-
ties OF the evening embraced a fancy dress car
nlval at the Victoria rink, which was attended by
the governor general, President Garrett, OF the
Baltimore Ohio railroad, Erastus Winans and a
distinguished party or Americans. stranger at
tending the carnival WAS found dead on the street
yesterday. The body has not yet been identified.